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Athens is the capital of modern day Greece. It was also the center of Ancient Greek culture and civilization. In fact, many of the ancient buildings still dominate Athens’ skyline. Check out below for the top 10 things to do in Athens when you visit.
#10. The Parthenon
Even if history or archaeology is not your things, one of the most popular things to do in Athens is visit the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. In fact, millions of tourist visit Athens every year in order to see it.[1]Matt Barrett’s Athens Guide – Top 10 Thing to Do in Athens
The Parthenon is the most important building that still exists from classical Greece. In fact, most historians consider it and the artwork inside of it the pinnacle of ancient Greek architecture. In addition, the Parthenon is an enduring symbol of democracy, western civilization, and ancient Greece.
#9. Athens Central Market
One of the best ways to experience any culture is through their food. One of the best things to do in Athens is visit the Dimotiki Agora or Varvakios Agora Public Market. Here you can mingle with locals buying a variety of Greek foods. In addition, head to the meat vendor area in the market and try out the restaurants. You can’t beat the price for such good food. [2]Matt Barrett’s Athens Guide – The Agora-Athens Central Market
#8. The Plaka Neighborhood
One of the best things to do in Athens is visit the historic neighborhood of Plaka. It is located right underneath the Acropolis and Parthenon. While this area is most a residential area, it is still a popular place to visit because of the great restaurants, cafes, and shops.
One of the great things about the neighborhood is that it is completely closed off to motor vehicles.[3]U.S. News & World Report – Plaka This along with the charming houses and atmosphere makes it a great place to walk around and explore.
#7. Take in Greek Art at the Benaki Museum
If you are really into Greek art, one of the best things to do in Athens is visit the Benaki Museum. This museum is focused on Greek art all the way back from prehistory to modern times. It features some popular artworks from famous Greek artists such as Yannis Pappas and Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika.[4]U.S. News & World Report – Benaki Museum The only bad thing about the museum is that it is so big that it is hard to see everything in just one trip.
It is recommended to visit the Benaki Museum on Thursdays because the entrance fees for permanent exhibits is waived. In addition, you can also get into the museum for free is you are visiting the Pappas Studio and the MENTIS workshop. Here you can see how military uniforms and costumes were make throughout history.
#6. Climb Philopappos Hill
One of the best things to do in Athens is climb the Philopappou hill. In fact, you don’t have to go out of your way to do it as it is one of the main ways to get to the Acropolis. Philopappou provides great views of the Acropolis as you climb it. In addition, it is itself a beautiful park filled with monuments, cobble stone roads, the famous Ayios Demetrios Loumbardiaris church, and a 16th centry basilica with beautiful murals. In fact, Philopappou hill is such a great historical place to visit on its own that it has been given the designation of a Scheduled and Protected Monument of the Global Cultural Heritage.[5]travel passionate – Top Thing To Do In Athens, Greece – 2018 Guide
#5. Visit the Diomedes Botanical Gardens
Visiting the Diomedes Botanical Gardens is one of the best things to do in Athens. The park is 45 acres green haven in the city of Athens. It is a great place to stroll around and take in a bit of nature. In addition, it’s a great place to have a picnic, as picnic tables abound throughout the park.
The park is divided into two sections, an intentionally overgrown natural area and a more cultivated section. In the overgrown part of the park, there are more than 500 species of plants. In the cultivated section, there are more than 2,500 species of plants from all around the world.[6]Greece Is – 10 of the Coolest Thing To Do in Athens The plants in the park are organized into several categories including aromatic, medicinal, historic, and ornamental. In addition, the park has a seed bank as well in order to preserve different plant species.
#4. Go to an Open Air Cinema
Going to Athens to see a movie might not be one of the things to do in Athens that comes to your mind first. However, it is one of the best ways to take in the enchanting city. In fact, there are several open air cinemas near the Acropolis. A popular one is Cine Thisio, which first started showing movies in 1935.[7]Cine Thisio Another popular one is Cine Paris, which first started showing movies in 1920.[8]Cine Paris As long as the weather is good, these open air cinemas usually stay open up to September.
On top of the regular movie food fare such as soft drinks and popcorn, you can also get popular Greek foods such as avgotaracho (Greek fish roe), tsipouro, and much more. In addition, foreign films are normally shown in their original language with Greek subtitles.
#3. Get A Free Tour Of The City
If you don’t have a lot of time, one of the best things to do in Athens is take a tour of the city. As the city is not that large in size, it is a great way to take in the sites. However, if you don’t have a lot of money, don’t worry! There are still a lot of options. In fact, there are several services, such as This Is My Athens[9]This Is My Athens which provide free tours of the city. In addition, these tours are lead by locals who will show you the best kept secrets of the city as well as the most interesting fact.[10]culture trip -10 Free Thing To Do In Athens, Greece
#2. Changing Of The Guards at Syntagma Square
Visiting Syntagma Square, where the Greek Parliament is located, is a great Athenian attraction on its own. However, viewing the Changing of the Guards is a cherry on top. Much like the palace guards in England, these ceremonial guards, called the Evzones, are quite the site to behold. Interestingly, these guards are chosen because of their height.
Every hour, they march from their barracks to their guard posts to change posts. Throughout the process they perform an interesting and intricate dance. If you want to see something even more impressive, make sure to visit on Sundays at 11 am. At this time, the Changing of the Guards is more impressive as there is a larger group of soldiers.[11]culture trip – A Brief History of Syntagma Square, Athens
#1. National Archaeology Museum
It is impossible to visit Athens without taking in some of its archaeological history. In fact, one of the best things to do in Athens is visit the largest archaeological museum in all of Greece, the National Archaeology Museum. In addition, it is one of the best museums of antiquities in the entire world.
The museum is over 86,000 square feet in size and houses more than 11,000 antiquity exhibits in 5 different collections.[12]planet ware – 12 Top-Rated Attractions & Thing to Do in Athens
- Prehistoric Collection – features artifacts from the 6th millennium BC to 1050 BC.
- Sculpture Collection – features ancient Greek sculptures from the 6th century BC to the 5th century BC
- Vase and Decorative Objects Collection – features Greek pottery from the 11th century BC to the classical Roman period.
- Stathatos Collection – features smaller objects from many different eras.
- Metallurgy Collection – features small metal statures and figurines.
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